R1.4 million raised for Rhino Conservation!
Running Wild for a Cause: The Absa Rhino Run 2025
At Wild Again, conservation isn't just an abstract idea - it’s part of our family’s story. Supporting the Zululand Conservation Trust as our chosen outreach programme feels especially meaningful because my dad was one of the founders of the Trust all those years ago. It’s been a big part of our lives and mission ever since. What began with the iconic Rhino Ride fundraising initiative has now grown into something even bigger. My brothers and I, (though honestly it's mostly them!) were determined to extend the impact, and from that drive the Rhino Run was born. This year marked the third edition - and what a milestone it was.
A Weekend to Remember
From 25–27 July 2025, runners, conservation supporters, and community members came together at Manyoni Private Game Reserve, with Bayete Zulu Homestead as our race hub, for a weekend unlike any other.
Sponsored by Absa, the event brought together trail runners, passionate conservationists, and the local community in a powerful show of solidarity. And while the weekend was filled with sweat, mud, and spectacular trails, the heart of it was crystal clear: raising funds for the Zululand Conservation Trust and the Zululand Rhino Orphanage. These funds will fuel everything from caring for orphaned rhinos to driving community upliftment and protecting endangered species for generations to come.
Participants could choose between trail routes designed for all abilities:
- Day 1: 21 km or 10 km
- Day 2: 15 km or 7 km
Whether pushing through a full trail or jogging a shorter distance, every step taken carried deeper meaning.
Runners camped under the stars in a dedicated race village, complete with hot showers, toilets, and charging stations. For those seeking a little more comfort, dome tents and lodge accommodation options made the weekend experience even more memorable. The weekend was filled with delicious food, great coffee, auctions, game drives, massages, music, dancing and fun!
Growth with Purpose
It’s incredible to see how the Rhino Run has grown in just three years. From just over 100 participants in its inaugural year in 2023, the event doubled to 265 in 2024. This year, 270 runners joined us, nearly reaching our capacity of 300 and proving that the Rhino Run is quickly becoming a premier conservation event in South Africa.
But the real success lies not in numbers, but in impact. Funds raised go directly toward:
- Protecting endangered species, especially rhinos
- Supporting the Zululand Rhino Orphanage
- Community upliftment projects, including food security, early learning centres, educational support, and skills training
The Trust’s mission is clear: lasting conservation cannot exist without thriving local communities. That’s why we’re as focused on people as we are on wildlife.
Heartfelt Thanks
We are so grateful to everyone who made the Absa Rhino Run 2025 possible. To our runners - your grit and determination carried the spirit of conservation across every kilometre. To our sponsors, especially Absa - your generosity ensures that this vision doesn’t just survive, but flourishes. And to the Zululand communities and conservation teams - you are the backbone of this mission, and we couldn’t do it without you.
Together, we are proving that running shoes and rhino tracks can leave the same kind of legacy: one that safeguards wild places and uplifts people, now and for generations to come.
Here’s to many more years of running wild, for rhinos, for communities, and for conservation.
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We wanted to give all of you a gift but with friends spread across the globe, a tangible gift wasn’t possible. We hope this handcrafted card carries the same intention. Download, print, cut and fold - may it remind you of the abundance you’re part of, and may it ripple outwards as you share it with others. Use it to celebrate a birthday, send thanks, or simply pass on a message of love.
Sitting at the bottom edge of Africa, is a place that has the rare combination of breathtaking natural beauty, stunning city lights, food to inspire, unique cultural experiences and a history that could fill a library of books - this city is Cape Town. Kevin shares why you should include a visit to Cape Town in your next trip to Africa!
Founder, Private Guide and Safari Planner
Being born the daughter of David Attenborough (it’s true but he’s probably not the one you’re thinking of) I don’t believe I ever really had much choice about what direction my life would take. I grew up in the city of Durban, South Africa but for as long as I can remember nature has called to me. Whenever I could I would escape to the forests around my home barefoot and in search of chameleons and red duiker to befriend.
And so in 2010, after completing my Journalism and Media Studies degree, I followed that calling to the wilds of Southern Africa to become a game ranger. I planned to stay for a year but it turned into ten. During that time, I worked at Phinda Private Game Reserve, Ngala Private Game Reserve and Londolozi Game Reserve, some of South Africa’s most prestigious lodges and immersed myself in the natural world. I learnt to track animals with Zulu and Shangaan trackers and spent as much time as I could on foot approaching animals with my guests. I also put my photojournalism degree to use by becoming a specialist photographic guide. I travelled to Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, India and throughout South America in search of wildlife. My greatest adventure was living in Gabon training local guides for the WWF and Smithsonian Institute, where we spent weeks at a time living like early nomads in the dense and remote coastal forests, fulfilling a life-long dream of tracking and habituating wild gorillas. Seeing how embodied and present animals are inspired me to begin practicing yoga. I am a qualified vinyasa and yin teacher and spent six months training under a Hatha master in Boulder, Colorado. I am also a certified Martha Beck life coach. With this mixture of knowledge, interests and skills, I started Wild Again to help others really experience the wild places I know and love so much. Through my specialised Wellness Safaris that incorporate yoga, meditation, mindfulness and personalised life coaching I continue to grow more conscious safaris that return people to nature and to themselves. As we re-wild ourselves we hear the earth, our common mother, again. It is only then that we can co-create with her healing.
Tell us if you’re keen to plan a safari or join a retreat. We’re ready to create your dream experience.
